Bike Advocates and EMS Workers Don't Have to Be Enemies (Shelley Bontje and Chris Bruntlett)
Apr 9, 2024
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Research paper co-authors Shelley Bontje and Chris Bruntlett discuss balancing traffic calming with emergency response times. They delve into the Dutch approach to street design for both cyclists and EMS vehicles. The podcast explores innovative governance models, cultural traits of Dutch engineers, and the importance of collaboration between bike advocates and EMS workers for safer cities.
Balancing street design for active mobility and emergency response is crucial for creating safer urban spaces.
Involving various stakeholders and utilizing tactical interventions can enhance urban planning for safer streets.
Deep dives
Balancing Livable Cities and Emergency Response
Creating cities that are more livable while ensuring efficient emergency response times requires a delicate balance. The podcast discusses the challenge of reconciling the need for slower traffic speeds to promote active mobility and safer public spaces, with the critical requirement for emergency vehicles like fire trucks to reach their destinations swiftly. This balance involves considering factors like street design, roadway accessibility, and the specific needs of emergency responders to navigate urban environments effectively.
Flexibility in Firetruck Design and Traffic Calming Measures
The podcast explores the idea of adapting firetruck sizes to suit urban environments and traffic conditions, highlighting the importance of water-carrying capacity for firefighting. It delves into how making firetrucks smaller in certain urban areas with readily available water sources can enhance response times. Moreover, the discussion emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach beyond just altering firetruck sizes, focusing on collaborative solutions, procedural changes, and creating an emergency response network.
Incorporating Stakeholders and Tactical Interventions
The podcast underscores the significance of involving various stakeholders in street design discussions, drawing from the collaborative model seen in Utrecht, Netherlands. By facilitating communication between city officials, emergency responders, and community representatives, cities can develop inclusive and effective urban planning strategies. Additionally, the concept of tactical interventions, such as reversible road design changes and iterative testing, is highlighted as a method to address safety concerns while maintaining flexibility in implementing infrastructure improvements.
Is it possible to build streets that are slow enough to keep vulnerable road users safe and lightning fast when an emergency service vehicle needs to reach a person in need? That's been a hot topic of debate among U.S. sustainable transportation advocates lately — and it's also the subject of a fascinating new research paper from the Dutch Cycling Embassy. In this episode of The Brake, we sit down with study co-authors Shelley Bontje and Chris Bruntlett to unpack how the Netherlands and other countries have navigated the challenge of building EMS-friendly streets that aren't hostile to people outside cars. Spoiler alert: it's not only about the famous Dutch culture of collaboration.
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